Based on our differing feelings about some other resorts, I'll take this as a ringing endorsement.
Thanks for the heads up. I did notice that last year seemed more crowded than 2011, so this might be a bit of a trend that it is getting a bit more crowded that time of year.
Based on our differing feelings about some other resorts, I'll take this as a ringing endorsement.
This is true; but I did eat at THAT resort earlier this month.
Thanks for the heads up. I did notice that last year seemed more crowded than 2011, so this might be a bit of a trend that it is getting a bit more crowded that time of year.
Either way, this is pretty much the week we have to go. Either that or wait until the week of 12/15. I feel confident that we've picked the better option.
If AoA works- while it's not the ideal set up - your son would be in awe and budgets are always important! I want to stay there one of these days just to check it out 
Here's the link to that update, but I'll give the short version here...
One evening, we rode the monorail around the resort loop and noticed an excavator and other construction equipment at the GF.
Our second to last morning, we were planning to get to MK before RD because we hadn't seen the welcome show yet. We were staying at WL, and we got out early and caught the first boat of the day. Just before we got over by the Contemporary our boat stopped. And we sat. For a long time. They were moving a barge with that excavator on it and we couldn't move until it got clear of the area.
Why that couldn't have been done an hour or 2 earlier is beyond me. Anyway... we could see the singing and dancing at the train station from the boat as we pulled up to the dock.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too!Hey! Trying to catch up on TRs... Maybe staying caught up on them should be my New Years resolution. Well merry Christmas and Happy new year!!
Well, I understand your wife's logic and think it's a great idea regarding your FiL
I was not happy at all. And the fact that I was standing on the front of the boat and it was a little bit chilly that morning didn't make me any happier.
I'm glad that there's at least one other person out there who doesn't think it is totally nuts to consider this.Happy to hear about some progress on your trip. I think your son would absolutely LOVE AoA. I'd think as long as your IL's are okay with a bit of a tight squeeze, i'd do it. However, i'm used to squeezing in 5 adults in one studio - maybe it's the Mexican in me
Subbing in!! I just have to tell you how incredibly beyond words adorably cute your kids are!!!!! OH MY!!!! Anywhoo... We stayed at SSR the 2nd week in December, and it was ok. We were in a 1bedroom. We stayed in a 2 bedroom with my parents 2 years ago, and loved it!! I would not hesitate to stay at OKW ever!! My dream is to stay in BLT though, so I can't say I would blame you for that option
I just read your update and commented about your resort choices. Welcome back to the boards. The holidays were great for our family. Just think, next Christmas you'll have a little one crawling around, shredding wrapping paper. 
Not bad at all. I figured it would start to be a mad house around there by that Fri/Sat though. We might talk a little bit more about going that week instead. It might really work a little better, but I'm not sure we'll want to be getting back just a few days before Christmas.
Based on our differing feelings about some other resorts, I'll take this as a ringing endorsement.
That is because he's married to you. He's no fool. He knew it was a trap.I'll have you know that I told Mark if he wanted to stay at WLV in September we could. He chose NOT to.
That is because he's married to you. He's no fool. He knew it was a trap.
OK... still not completely ruling out that week entirely yet. But I did do some research this afternoon, and if we were to stay at AoA, it would be over $100 more per night the week of the 15th vs. the week of the 1st. I haven't compared those dates at other resorts yet, but this definitely got my attention.
Who's Going Where When???
Ok, I've mentioned before that planning is going slowly because we're still trying to figure out who will join us. Well, at first, it looked like MiL was on the fence and might be joining us. Apparently, she really wants to go. But our planned week, the week after Thanksgiving, doesn't work very well for her. I've mentioned that we could change it to the week of the 12/15. I really don't want to, because it know it will be more crowded, but if it works best I can live with it. As of right now though, I think we're still planning for the week after Thanksgiving.
In addition to this, she is trying to convince FiL, who never wants to travel anywhere for more than 2 or 3 days to go with us. The last I heard, she convinced him to go because it will be a chance to make memories with his grandchildren. She knows just the right buttons to push.
Anyway, it looks like we can go ahead an pencil them in to go with us. It is definitely changing the way I'm planning this trip though. FiL won't enjoy the parks. It won't be that he won't try, or that he'll complain, but he just isn't going to have fun there. He'll enjoy spending time with his grandkids, but he's not going to want to be in the parks all day, and by the 3rd or 4th day, he'll want to be back home. That's just how he is. When we go on vacations with them to Gatlinburg, it is his type of vacation. Maybe an afternoon of golf, but mostly just relaxing with the family. And even then he's ready to get back home after a few days.
It pains me to say this, especially after khertz went and got me all excited, but I think we are going to just have to cut any plans for Universal out of this trip and possibly even shorten our intended Disney stay.
I'm not crazy about that aspect of it, but I truly am glad that FiL is joining us. I know that this isn't exactly something he wants to do, but he's doing it for his grandkids. I still want to make sure that we can at least make it as enjoyable for him as possible. One thing I'm sure he'll enjoy is Candlelight Processional, so I'm sure we'll be looking at getting a dinner package for that.
We did sit and look at some resort options last night. I'm kind of putting off the idea of AoA right now since it seems to me that we'd really be getting a little too crowded for a suite there with MiL and FiL. Out of the blue, DW mentions that she wants to stay at All Star Movies or All Star Music.
I have looked into DVC rentals. While it is definitely a discount vs. rack rate, it is still a little bit more than we'd really like to spend this trip. Especially if we're going to try to hit Disneyland about a month later. Now, if Mom and Dad would end up going and we're splitting the cost of a 2 bedroom villa... that might make more sense. So it is still an option, but we'll just have to see where things go from here.
As a result, we are looking at AoA, once again. Yes, I know it will be ridiculously tight. But I think we can manage. I believe there are 2 bathrooms, and that is my biggest concern. I don't think we'll be spending a huge amount of time in the room anyway so although it will be tight, I don't think it will be too big of a deal. I think we'd just let MiL and FiL have the main bedroom. I don't mind sleeping on a Mater themed table bed.
I'm not sure, but it doesn't really pencil out for us either way.
Good points. You're right, you never really know how it will work out once you're there. It is just going to be our family with MiL and FiL though. I think it would have been fine if my parents had gone though, because the four of them go on trips every summer... without DW and me!
Definitely valid points. I think it wouldn't be quite that bad with our kids though. DD will still just be 2 and will sleep in a pack n play. So basically DW and I would each have a fold out bed and one of us would have to share with DS. Which, quite honestly, is no different from most nights at home from around 3 or 4 am until it is time to get up and is likely how sleeping arrangements would end up if we had our own room at any other resort. The kid just doesn't sleep well and is scared of his own shadow. I worry about the comfort of the beds more so than anything else. My biggest concern is that DW is the one who will be miserable, which in turn, will make me miserable.
She is very picky about how comfortable a bed is, but then again, she's the one who is dead set on AoA... That's just what dads do. Yeah... we're definitely leaning towards on site right now. This whole FP+ thing seems to be a huge variable that is a constantly moving target. I'm hoping that by the time we get there, it will be more permanent in its structure, but it seems that staying onsite will likely minimize some of the negative variables of it and maybe give us more flexibility. At least I hope that will be the case.
Definitely valid points. I think it wouldn't be quite that bad with our kids though. DD will still just be 2 and will sleep in a pack n play. So basically DW and I would each have a fold out bed and one of us would have to share with DS. Which, quite honestly, is no different from most nights at home from around 3 or 4 am until it is time to get up and is likely how sleeping arrangements would end up if we had our own room at any other resort. The kid just doesn't sleep well and is scared of his own shadow. I worry about the comfort of the beds more so than anything else. My biggest concern is that DW is the one who will be miserable, which in turn, will make me miserable.
Me, I can sleep anywhere, so I'll deal with it if that's what we do.
I see your point about doing a suite for us, LM room for them. I think it would be great to have a separate room to put DD in. She sleeps better when it is dark and quiet. If we would do 2 rooms though, I think we'd end up doing 2 regular rooms at another value as opposed to spending the extra for a suite for just the 4 of us. It is just too hard to justify that extra expense. My vote would be POP, DW, wants ASMo or ASMu if we go that direction.
Yeah... we're definitely leaning towards on site right now. This whole FP+ thing seems to be a huge variable that is a constantly moving target. I'm hoping that by the time we get there, it will be more permanent in its structure, but it seems that staying onsite will likely minimize some of the negative variables of it and maybe give us more flexibility. At least I hope that will be the case.
, but we tried to get some cell phone pictures of the show. Many were blurry, but here are a few of them:
